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Thesis
An investigation of the neurocognitive profile of binge eating disorder
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jul 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6073
Abstract
Although current interventions for BED are moderately effective, long-term binge abstinence and weight control are a challenge. Adding neurocognitive targets to intervention has the potential to improve treatment for BED, but the neurocognition of binge eating and binge eating disorder (BED) is currently poorly understood. Very preliminary evidence suggests that executive functions (EF), which are comprised of diverse, overlapping frontal lobe processes that enable an individual to engage in self-initiated, healthy, and adaptive behavior may be weak in individuals with BED. Weaknesses in specific processes that may be associated with binge eating are inhibitory control (inhibiting a prepotent response towards a stimuli), cognitive flexibility (the ability to flexibly generate strategies), decision-making (prioritizing immediate versus delayed reward), and working memory (the ability to keep goal-relevant information online). However, at this time, evidence is mixed as to whether individuals with BED show deficits in these areas, potentially due to significant methodological weaknesses in the studies that comprise the current literature. The current study compared several dimensions of EF in a sample of overweight women with (n=31) and without (n=43) full and sub-threshold BED, with the aim of conducting a thorough investigation of the neurocognitive profile of binge eating. A neuropsychological battery (including tests of inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, delayed discounting, and working memory), a palatable-foods implicit attitudes task, and a self-report measure of food reactivity were administered to all participants before entry into either a behavioral weight loss program or cognitive-behavioral treatment for BED. Results indicate that after controlling for IQ and age, individuals with BED displayed poorer performance on tasks of executive planning and inhibitory control, and also displayed higher prioritization of immediate versus delayed rewards compared to the control group. The pattern of results remained unchanged when depression was added as a covariate. Full and sub-threshold BED groups did not differ in performance on any executive functioning tasks. Additionally, the combination of less positive implicit attitudes towards highly palatable food and poor inhibitory control was associated with higher frequency of binge episodes in the BED sample. Results suggest a distinct neurocognitive profile associated with binge eating, independent of weight status and frequency and size of binge episodes. Implications include testing of treatment components that target such executive functioning deficits, and future research should examine what deficits predict or moderate outcome in psychological treatments.
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Details
- Title
- An investigation of the neurocognitive profile of binge eating disorder
- Creators
- Stephanie M. Manasse - DU
- Contributors
- Evan M. Forman (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6073; 991014632516604721